25. Auburn Tigers

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Auburn starts off the list after suffering through a disappointing 3-9 campaign in 2012. The Tigers failed to win a SEC game and will likely be projected to be near the bottom of the pack again in 2013.

New head coach Gus Malzahn will bring some energy to the program, and quarterback Kiehl Frazier will be much better in 2013.

The schedule is favorable with nonconference games against Washington State, Arkansas State, Western Carolina and Florida Atlantic.

Expect Auburn to surprise some people and possibly reach a bowl game next season.

24. Maryland Terrapins

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Maryland is another BCS team that disappointed last season, finishing the year 4-8.

The Terrapins struggled through a season of injuries, particularly at the quarterback position. Maryland lost its top four quarterbacks on the depth chart to injury and had to use a freshman linebacker the final few games of the season.

Head coach Randy Edsall has a knack for turning programs around, and Maryland is relatively young. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs will be a stud next season, and the Terrapins will be at least in the middle of the pack in the ACC.

23. Penn State Nittany Lions

Nobody could have expected Penn State to do what it did last season, finishing the year 8-4 and one of the best teams in the Big Ten.

Next season has letdown written all over it for the Nittany Lions. Replacing quarterback Matt McGloin will not be easy, and it could be a struggle now that the emotions from last season have worn off.

the schedule will not be easy. Out of conference, the Nittany Lions take on Syracuse and Kent State. The conference slate features road games at Ohio State and Wisconsin as well as home dates with Michigan and Nebraska.

A losing season could be in store for Penn State, and the Nittany Lions will shock us with a disappointing season, unlike the first two teams on the list.

21. Ole Miss Rebels

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Ole Miss went 7-6 this season and appears headed in the right direction under head coach Hugh Freeze.

There is plenty of talent coming back, including quarterback Bo Wallace. Some early projections have Ole Miss in the top 25 next season. That seems a little out there, considering the competition it will be facing.

A road trip to Texas highlights the nonconference slate, and there are not many favors in SEC play with Alabama, Texas A&M and LSU coming in a four-week span.

The Rebels might be a team that will be a huge disappointment in 2013 and regress a little bit.

20. Florida Gators

There is no question that Florida was one of the major surprises of the 2012 college football season and has a lot of young talent coming back.

It is almost a certainty that Florida will be a top 10 team to begin the season, and duplicating the success of the 2012 season will be harder than expected.

There are players to replace on defense including linebacker Jelani Jenkins who has declared for the NFL draft.

Running back Mike Gillislee is also gone, and quarterback Jeff Driskel will need to improve drastically. With nonconference games at Miami and against Florida State, the Gators just might lose four games next season.

15. Vanderbilt Commodores

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As long as head coach James Franklin is around, the Vanderbilt program is going to continue to improve.

This season Vanderbilt finished the year 9-4 and won its final seven games of the season. There is a lot to replace, particularly on offense with quarterback Jordan Rogers and running back Zac Stacy having moved on.

But, star wide receiver Jordan Matthews is coming back for his senior season.

This team is not going to be ranked real high to begin the year, but could win as many as 10 games in 2013.

6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Notre Dame was very fortunate to win as many games as it did in 2012, and the national championship proved how overrated it might have been.

Next season, the Fighting Irish might have as much talent as they 2012 did, and they will likely be ranked in the top 10 to begin the season. But it is going to be hard to live up to those expectations.

The schedule is relatively easy with the toughest tests being a home game against Oklahoma and road contests at Michigan and Stanford.

It would not be shocking if the Fighting Irish lost three or four games next season.

1. Northwestern Wildcats

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Believe it or not, Northwestern won 10 games last season and was very close to going undefeated.

This is another program on the rise and a team that could be a sleeper for the Big Ten title. The nonconference schedule will be challenging with a road game against California and a home date with Syracuse.

In the Big Ten, both Ohio State and Michigan will be at home with Wisconsin and Nebraska on the road.

Do not be surprised if this team puts together a 10- or 11-win season and contends for the Rose Bowl.